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New rules would have some pilots fly fewer hours

Transportation and labor officials said some airline pilots would fly fewer hours and others more hours under a proposal being released Friday to help lessen pilot fatigue.

Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said Friday in his blog that the proposal will include different requirements based on the time of day, number of scheduled flight segments, flight types and time zones.

It would also require that pilots be given nine hours of rest between work days, an increase of an hour over current rules.

The proposal is an attempt to prevent tired pilots from making errors that cause crashes.

It would update decades-old rules governing pilot work schedules with more flexible, scientifically based standards.